New Zealand opener Bates scores unbeaten 93, Eagles bowled out for 177

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Apr-2025A four-wicket haul for fledgling seamer Phoebe Turner was followed by a brilliant a unbeaten 93 for New Zealander Suzie Bates as dominant Durham brushed aside Essex by nine wickets at the Banks Homes Riverside in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition opener.Turner, 21, was the standout bowler with 4 for 33 from eight overs as Essex, inserted, were bowled out for 177 inside 48 overs. Fellow seamer Grace Thompson also impressed with two wickets on her professional debut, while experienced leg-spinner Katie Levick struck three times.Essex recovered from 65 for 5 in the 20th over, with Jodie Grewcock contributing 31 and Sophia Smale 40. They shared a sixth-wicket 53, but it wasn’t enough in front of a 600-strong crowd at the start of the professional era of women’s cricket in the North East.Related

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Opener Bates is Durham’s first ever professional women’s overseas signing, and she led a composed chase with 14 fours in 103 balls. She shared a superb unbroken 173 with second-wicket partner and captain Hollie Armitage, who scored 64 off 87 balls. A five-point victory was sealed in the 33rd over.Turner was the leading wicket-taker in last season’s 50-over regional competition, striking 23 times for Northern Diamonds. She and Thompson – a tall 17-year-old rookie – set the tone as the Eagles slipped into early trouble.Thompson struck with the new ball when she trapped Jo Gardner lbw before Turner angled one across visiting captain Grace Scrivens and had the left-hander caught behind for 19, making it 46 for 2 in the 12th over.Turner then had Cordelia Griffith caught behind by England squad wicketkeeper Bess Heath, who claimed two catches and two stumpings. The same bowler had Lissy Macleod caught and bowled off a skied top-edge.In between, Abi Glen took a superb catch diving to her left at first slip to help Thompson remove Flo Miller as Essex slipped to five down.The half-century stand between Grewcock and Smale, under the Riverside floodlights, was accumulative.Levick removed both Grewcock and Smale stumped, leaving the Eagles 145 for 7 in the 42nd over.Levick then ousted Amara Carr for 21 and, courtesy of a catch at short third, helped Turner get Eva Gray as the tail was mopped up with 2.3 overs remaining.Levick and Thompson finished with 3 for 28 and 2 for 34 from their respective 10-over spells.Run-scoring on this pitch wasn’t completely trouble-free, and Kate Coppack’s seam trapped Emma Marlow lbw in the second over of Durham’s chase.But in 37-year-old Bates, a veteran of 348 all-format international appearances, and Armitage, Durham had the perfect combination to steer their ship.They calmed any early nerves early in their near 31-over alliance before becoming more expansive to extinguish Essex’s hopes.Durham reached 100 for 1 after 22 overs, by which stage a home victory was almost certain.Bates was strong on both sides of the wicket and reached her fifty off 68 balls moments later. Armitage then followed her to the same milestone off 75 to cap off the bonus-point success.

ردت رابطة البريميرليج على الجدل الدائر حول إحدى اللقطات لفريق ليفربول في الدقائق الأخيرة من عمر الشوط الأول أمام برينتفورد، في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكان برينتفورد قد أنهى الشوط الأول متقدمًا على ليفربول بهدفين لهدف على ملعبه ووسط جماهيره.

وافتتح دانجو كواترا التسجيل لصالح برينتفورد في الدقيقة 5، وأضاف كيفن شايد الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 45.

وفي الوقت بدل الضائع من الشوط الأول قلص ميلوس كيركيز ظهير ليفربول الفارق بتسجيل الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 50.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سبب تأخير انطلاق الشوط الثاني من مباراة ليفربول وبرينتفورد

وكانت لقطة الهدف الثاني لصالح برينتفورد، قد بدأت بعد أن تم افتكاك الكرة من كودي جاكبو داخل منطقة جزاء برينتفورد وقد تظاهر اللاعب الهولندي أنم تم عرقلته قبل أن يفقد الكرة.

وأشار حساب الدوري الإنجليزي عبر منصة “إكس” في توضيح لعدم احتساب هذه اللقطة ضربة جزاء لصالح ليفربول: “تم التحقق من نداء الحكم بعدم احتساب ركلة جزاء لصالح ليفربول وتأكيده بواسطة تقنية الفيديو المساعد، حيث تبين أنه لم يكن هناك خطأ من كولينز على جاكبو”.

The adjectives came thick and fast: “remarkable,” “mind-blowing,” “other-worldly,” “unprecedented,” “exceptional.” Yet nothing could have truly prepared the cricket world for what unfolded on Monday night in Jaipur during IPL 2025. A 14-year-old kid, facing seasoned professionals with years of top-level experience, delivered a performance so astonishing that even Ian Bishop – a man who has witnessed more cricket than most – admitted, “It’s hard to really speak logic to this.”The basic facts, in case you missed it: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, from Bihar, who turned 14 after this IPL started, took on a bowling attack of Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Karim Janat and R Sai Kishore – 694 international caps between them – and smashed them for 101 runs in 38 balls. It was the second-fastest century in the IPL, and it was much else besides.It might have come as a surprise to many, but not to Vikram Rathour, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) batting coach, who has been watching the INR 1.1 crore auction buy up close for the past few months.Related

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“We have been watching it in [the] nets the last few months. So we knew what he was capable of and what kind of shots he can play,” Rathour said in the press conference after RR had beaten Gujarat Titans (GT) by eight wickets, chasing down 210 with 25 balls in hand. “But to do it in front of this kind of crowd and in a situation like this, against a really good bowling attack, was really special.”Saw him maybe four months back when he came for the trials. All of us knew we had found something special. It was up to us to nurture him and bring him to this level. Credit to him, he kept his nerve, he has a solid head on his shoulders, he has showed what he is capable of.”He certainly did, leaving Bishop and Varun Aaron searching for words on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show.”They are allowing young players to come in, most franchises, and be free, be fearless, ‘don’t worry about your failure’, and that’s a big shift in Indian cricket, with guys like Yashasvi Jaiswal and others,” Bishop said. “That’s a big shift in Indian cricket – let’s not look past that. A few generations ago, ‘play properly, you get two failures [and] you’re gone’. Now it’s a different culture.”

WATCH – Highlights of Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record-breaking hundred on JioHotstar (India only)

It’s a culture that, in IPL 2025 alone, has thrown up future stars Priyansh Arya, Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre and now Suryavanshi.”I don’t care what GT served up [with the ball] on a platter, the kid is 14 years old! He demolished what was served to him tonight.” Bishop said. “You can take nothing away. Going forward, [we can ask] how do they come at him in the next game, how does he counter what’s going to be thrown at him, but for tonight, I don’t care whether [the bowlers] served him oranges…”I hope we don’t go too far with praising him, but you cannot step back from the fact that tonight was absolutely mind-blowing, other-wordly.”

How does a 14-year-old hit with such power?

On the night, Suryavanshi hit 11 sixes and seven fours. Most of his sixes went a long, long way. As we have spoken about elsewhere on ESPNcricinfo, there’s a unique bat-swing in his game that could be the source of his power.5:27

‘Otherworldly’ Suryavanshi wows Bishop, Aaron

“If you look at the way his backlift is, it starts here [near the back ear] and then it goes almost like a whip. So he gets a little extra whip into his shots, because it’s not like a conventional up-and-down kind of backlift,” Aaron said. “It will be really cool to see one of those trackers which we have which track the backlift; it’s a very different backlift and I think that’s what makes his unique and he gets so much power into the shot with that effort for somebody who is that young.”Visualise what Aaron said, or just revisit Suryavanshi’s batting last night, and the name that pops up is that of Yuvraj Singh. It did for Bishop for sure. “Pendulum swing. I remember when Yuvraj came to the scene, and with pendulum swing, and you can see the full range in motion. How do you… phew!”

‘This is new territory for Rahul Dravid’

Now comes the question about the future. There are enough cautionary tales in Indian cricket about early success and all that can go wrong thereafter. Being around Rahul Dravid and Rathour can only help, but that’s only for a few months every year.”He’s lucky to be part of Rajasthan Royals and under Rahul Dravid, because Rahul Dravid is one of those cricketers who almost symbolises how to keep it low-key,” Aaron said. “If he can pass those values to him, be like, ‘you know what, this is just the beginning, take it easy, put your head down…”5:13

What’s the best way to handle Suryavanshi?

But, as Bishop pointed out, Suryavanshi’s age makes things just that little bit tricky.”It’s unprecedented, 14 years old. This is new territory. This is new territory for Rahul. This is going to be new territory for the parents,” Bishop said. “The scrutiny on him when he plays the next game, and if he doesn’t score any runs, you know, there are going to be detractors out there.”Brian Lara was always one of the greatest guys I saw [when it comes to] dealing with failure. We played against each other since we were 14-15 years old – he was able to take failure, let it run off his back, and move on to something great. This kid if going to be tested. Rahul is great. He has a great track record. His parents are going to have to be so close to him, and hopefully – I am sure they are great parents – you’ve got to surround this kid with proper people for the next five years to ensure this high that he’s got so early in his career, there isn’t a drop.”This is going to take a special effort from his parents, the BCCI…”

Arsenal have become a far smarter club when it comes to the transfer market over recent years.

Mikel Arteta and Co have overseen a host of incredible additions to the squad that have turned them from a mid-table side into consistent Premier League and Champions League contenders.

Yet, the North Londoners lag behind their rivals when it comes to the selling side of transfers.

However, at least they don’t lose future stars for nothing anymore, like they did with a current world-class talent who is playing as well as Bukayo Saka.

Youngsters Arsenal released too soon

As with all big clubs, there are a number of international superstars that Arsenal let go as youngsters, only to regret that decision later.

However, unlike a lot of other clubs, they have gone on to re-sign one of them in a statement deal: Eberechi Eze.

The club released the summer arrival as a teenager and after spending time with Fulham, Reading and Millwall’s academies, he’d finally get a professional contract with QPR, where he’d be spotted and signed by Crystal Palace in the summer of 2020.

During his time south of the river, the Greenwich-born dynamo would rack up a brilliant haul of 40 goals and 28 assists in 169 appearances, which was enough to convince his former side to bring him home.

Another player who came back to North London after being released by Arsenal, although to the wrong side, is Harry Kane.

Released after just one season with the Gunners, the young Englishman would go on to join Tottenham Hotspur a few years later, and by the time he left the capital, he had scored 280 goals and provided 63 assists in 435 games.

The England captain is now tearing it up for Bayern Munich, and he’s not the only former Arsenal prospect doing so.

The former Arsenal youngster now looking like another Saka

There are actually two former Arsenal gems plying their trade for Bayern alongside Kane, and one of them is, of course, Serge Gnabry.

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However, while getting rid of the German international was a mistake, the Gunners did at least get a fee for him, which they did not for Michael Olise.

Yes, before spending time in the academies of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Reading, the dynamic youngster spent a short period at the famous Hale End of the North Londoners, before leaving for nothing.

It was during his time with Reading that Crystal Palace spotted him, and in 2021 he earned an £8m move to the South London side.

During his three seasons with the Eagles, the French international scored 16 goals and provided 25 assists in 90 appearances, which caught the attention of Bayern, who agreed to pay £50m for him last summer.

Now, when we say that the 23-year-old is playing ‘like Saka’, we don’t necessarily mean in playstyle, but more in how important he is to his team from an output perspective.

For example, despite missing almost four months of action last year, the Englishman still racked up 26 goal involvements in just 37 appearances for Arteta’s side.

Appearances

62

Minutes

4410′

Goals

24

Assists

26

Goal Involvements per Match

0.80

Minutes per Goal Involvements

88.2′

In comparison, the former Eagles star scored a staggering 20 goals and provided 23 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes.

In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes, and as he’s already racked up seven goal involvements in seven games this season, it would be fair to say Oliver Glasner has been proven more than right when he claimed the Frenchman was “one of the best talents in the world.”

Ultimately, Arsenal have a brilliant team this year, but just imagine how dangerous they’d be with Saka and Olise in the squad.

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Serge Gnabry's superb performance in Germany's 4-0 win over Luxembourg has sparked high praise from coach Julian Nagelsmann, who lauded the winger's 'feistiness' and work rate as a crucial role model for 'top players.' The German coach declared the display Gnabry's best international game in a long time, noting his hunger both offensively and defensively.

Serge Gnabry shines as Germany tops table

Germany delivered a dominant display in their 4-0 win over Luxembourg in World Cup qualifying, comfortably controlling the match after an early red card for Luxembourg put them down to 10 men. Gnabry was particularly impressive, not only scoring early in the second half but also contributing with energetic pressing and off-the-ball work. After the game Nagelsmann praised Gnabry’s performance, stating he was “very good” both offensively and defensively and showed the hunger the team needs going forward.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNagelsmann praises Gnabry's best game in a long time

The German coach was delighted by Gnabry's commitment in the game and commended the Bayern Munich player for feistiness both in front of the goal and at the back while also labelling it as one of his best performances in a long time.

"He was one of those role models when it came to greed. If the top players who are positioned in attack and have played for a huge club for years also display this feistiness at the back, then every player from a smaller club will do the same. He played his best international game in a long time," Nagelsmann said.

Gnabry's resurgence and Bayern's unbeaten run

Bayern have enjoyed a scintillating start to the 2025-26 season, remaining unbeaten in the Bundesliga and all competitions under Vincent Kompany. Gnabry has emerged as one of their standout performers, registering three goals and three assists in just the opening six league matches while consistently impressing on the left wing with high work-rate and attacking intent. After two turbulent, injury-hit campaigns, Gnabry is experiencing a resurgence and is widely considered to be enjoying his best season at Bayern, thriving in both form and confidence.

Speaking on his form after the Luxembourg game, the winger said: "Goals and assists always help you develop a certain ease. You don't constantly think about whether you have to do this or that in order to play in the next game. And that's why things are going so well right now."

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AFPGermany top of the table but challenge looms

Germany, Northern Ireland, and Slovakia are currently locked atop Group A with six points each, though Nagelsmann's team hold the lead based on goal difference. With many qualifying games still remaining, Germany must maintain their high motivation and focus to successfully book their place in the World Cup. Their next critical challenge comes against Northern Ireland on October 13.

Chelsea’s approach to recruitment has long revolved around stacking their squad with some of the brightest young prospects in world football.

In the past few years, they have paid significant sums to secure teenagers such as Estevão, Kendry Páez and Mamadou Sarr.

This summer alone, they have added some of the most exciting youth prospects in Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Jorrel Hato from Ajax.

The logic is simple: bring in rising stars before their price goes up and commit them to long contracts, typically seven years or more.

By doing so, Chelsea not only protect themselves against paying premiums later – as they did with Enzo Fernández’s £107m transfer in 2023 – but also keep themselves compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by spreading transfer fees across the length of those deals.

The result is the youngest squad in the Premier League, with an average age of just 23 years and five months.

Not all of these gambles work out, however. A number of players have grown frustrated at limited minutes and moved on.

This summer alone saw exits for Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku.

And in previous years, Chelsea have made high-profile misjudgements by letting go of talents like Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice and Romelu Lukaku too early.

Yet there are also success stories that show the model can deliver.

Nowhere is that clearer than with Cole Palmer.

Cole Palmer's stunning Chelsea stint so far

When Chelsea paid Manchester City £40m for Palmer in 2023, the deal was met with scepticism.

Could a player who had mostly been used sparingly by Pep Guardiola truly justify such a fee?

Two years on, the answer is an emphatic yes. Palmer is now the beating heart of Enzo Maresca’s side and widely regarded as the club’s most important player.

Since his arrival, Palmer’s market value has soared from €32m (£28m) to €120m (£110m), as per Transfermarkt.

He was central to Chelsea’s resurgence last season, guiding them to a fourth-place finish, a UEFA Conference League triumph and a Club World Cup title.

His influence was decisive in both finals, scoring twice against PSG in the Club World Cup and picking up man of the match awards in each.

Palmer’s output has been remarkable: 45 goals and 29 assists in his first 100 appearances for the club.

Beyond numbers, his creativity and ability to dictate games in the final third have been transformative.

It is no surprise he won the PFA Young Player of the Season award, or that he broke into the England team in 2023, scoring in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Statistically, Palmer excels across multiple areas.

Matches Played

37

Goals

15

Assists

8

Progressive Carries

120

Progressive Passes

214

Source: FBref

His 2024/25 season included 37 appearances with 23 goal involvements, averaging 6.03 progressive passes per 90 and 5.70 shot-creating actions.

He is not just scoring and assisting, but consistently advancing Chelsea’s play in possession.

For all the criticism of the club’s scattergun transfer policy, Palmer stands as proof that sometimes they get it spectacularly right.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Palmer

For every Palmer success story, there is a cautionary tale.

Jamal Musiala’s departure is one Chelsea fans continue to regret.

Having been part of the Blues’ youth system, he left for Bayern Munich in 2019 for just €200k (£175k).

Today his market value is estimated at €140m (£130m), and he is widely considered among the best attacking midfielders in world football.

At Bayern, Musiala has blossomed into a superstar.

In 207 matches, he has scored 64 goals and provided 39 assists, while also cementing his place in the German national team with 40 caps and eight goals.

Former England youth teammate Jude Bellingham once roomed with him, and Musiala’s decision to represent Germany over England has only heightened the sense of loss.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes summed it up simply: Musiala is “one of the best number 10s in the world.” The statistics underline his world-class profile.

In 2024/25, he managed 14 goal involvements in 25 Bundesliga matches, with 1.55 shots on target per 90 and an outstanding 45.6% accuracy, as per FBref.

He edges Palmer in dribbling influence too, recording 39.6 carries per 90 compared to Palmer’s 33.0.

While Palmer is the superior progressive passer (6.03 per 90 to Musiala’s 5.35), Musiala’s ability to destabilise defenders with his direct running offers a complementary, if different, threat.

The irony is stark: Chelsea now pay premiums to secure players like Palmer, while having allowed Musiala to leave for a fraction of his current worth.

Injuries have unfortunately stalled his 2025/26 campaign – a broken leg at the Club World Cup means he will miss large portions of the season – but his trajectory remains upwards.

The Palmer-Musiala contrast highlights the dual nature of Chelsea’s youth model.

They are capable of landing gems that transform the team, but just as easily let diamonds slip through their fingers.

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Heather Knight faces a race against time to be fit for the Women’s World Cup in India in September, after suffering a “significant tendon injury” in her right hamstring during her matchwinning innings against West Indies last week.Knight, England’s former captain, made 66 not out from 47 balls in the third T20I at Chelmsford on Monday to set up their 3-0 clean sweep of the series. However, she was visibly hampered by a hamstring injury for the latter part of her innings and did not take the field for the second half of the match.A subsequent MRI scan has now revealed the full extent of the injury, and she has been ruled out of the remainder of the international summer, including this week’s ODI series against West Indies and the visit of India in June and July, as well as the Women’s Hundred in August.Knight will now undergo further assessment with the England Women’s medical team to determine the next steps of her rehabilitation.”Although no return date can be set at this stage, it is hoped Heather will be available for selection for the ICC Women’s World Cup in September 2025,” said the ECB in a statement.Responding to the news in an Instagram post, Knight wrote: ” It was fun whilst it lasted…”Unfortunately l’ve damaged my right hamstring tendon pretty badly and I’ll miss the rest of the international summer and the hundred, but l’ve got the World Cup in my sights.”Pretty gutted, it’s not the best timing, but I’ll be doing everything I can to get back asap.I’ve been here before and I’ll face this head on like all the challenges l’ve had in my career.”Knight had already been replaced in England’s ODI squad by Alice Capsey, who made 4 in her only innings of the T20I leg of West Indies’ tour, also at Chelmsford.However, her vast experience will be harder for England to replace, as they continue their rebuild under the new captaincy of Nat Sciver-Brunt, who took over the role in April after Knight’s nine-year tenure was brought to an end.”It’s pretty obvious that the senior players are going to have to step up and help Nat out,” Kate Cross, England’s seamer said. “Nat’s learning to be an international captain now. So she’s not the finished article, I think she’ll admit that herself, but we all want to help out where we can, and try and take a bit of the burden off her.”We’re obviously all devastated for Heather,” Cross added. “We’re all sending her lots of love. We know how hard she works and how diligent she is with her fitness. She’s no stranger to injuries, but I don’t think that makes it any easier. But having that big competition and trophy in mind will give her the motivation to make sure that she’s there for it at the end of the summer.”Despite her injury, Knight was the stand-out performer at Chelmsford, guiding her side to a competitive 144 for 5 in the first innings, as England’s dominance was challenged for the first time in the series.”Her innings was pretty special to get us up to that total, being a competitive and winning score in the end,” said Sciver-Brunt, who was England’s next-best batter for the match with 37 off 40. “That just shows her class and experience.”Her calm influence in the field was arguably missed as well, with England dropping three catches in as many balls in West Indies’ run-chase – an echo of their terrible display against the same opponents at the T20 World Cup in Dubai last year, when Knight had once again suffered an injury while batting and could not take the field.In 2022, Knight underwent hip surgery on a labral tear that had been hampering her for several months, and which caused her to miss that summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – another tournament in which England under-performed in her absence.The World Cup in India is the first big staging post for England’s rebooted regime under new head coach Charlotte Edwards. The tournament, which England last won under Knight’s leadership in 2017, gets underway on September 29, with the final slated for Mullanpur on October 26.

India’s new Test captain says it will be important for him to compartmentalise his roles as batter and leader

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-20255:54

Kumble: Gill has to establish himself as a Test batter first

Shubman Gill has said being appointed India’s Test captain is the “ultimate honour” and that he aims to lead by example through performances on the field and through his “discipline and hard work” off it.Gill, 25, will begin his tenure as captain with a five-Test series in England starting on June 20, also the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle. As he leads a team going through a transition, Gill underlined the importance of understanding his team-mates to get the best out of them.”As a captain, a leader should be able to know when to step in but also when to give space to the players, because everyone has kind of had a different life and grown up differently,” Gill told BCCI.tv. “Everyone has a different personality, so a good leader should always be able to know what makes his players to be able to have the best performance or the best outcome.”That is always exciting to be able to have those conversations with the players, to be able to know them on a deeper level than just cricket, because then you’re really able to know what can get the best out of them.”Related

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Gill, who captained India during a T20I series in Zimbabwe last year, emphasised the importance of compartmentalising his roles as a batter and a leader.”One of the things that I learned was if I’m a batsman, I’m batting out there. I want to be able to make decisions as a batsman and not as a captain,” Gill said. “If I start thinking about other things, it just puts more pressure on me which is not required, because when you’re batting out there, you want to be able to take those risks.”You want to be able to make decisions that you would make when you are playing just as a batsman because that gives you the freedom. That is one of the things that I learned that when whenever I am batting out there, I just want to be able to make decisions as a batsman and not really want to think that I’m the captain.”Shubman Gill will be leading India in their first series since Kohli and Rohit’s Test retirements•AFP/Getty Images

Gill considers himself fortunate to have had the chance to learn leadership traits from his predecessors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have now retired from Test cricket.”When I was a kid, always inspired by the greats and the legends of Indian cricket and been very fortunate to be able to play with so many of them be it Virat or Rohit ,” he said. “Both were very contrasting in terms of their style, but it was very inspiring to see both of them working towards a common goal.”You want to be able to win as a captain and your styles can be different, but they both were very different but also similar in their own sense. Virat was always very aggressive, always wanting to lead from the front with hunger and passion whereas Rohit was also aggressive, but you might not see that on their reaction or on their expressions, but he was also someone who was always very attacking on the field.”Rohit was someone who was very calm and tactically always very present. He’s very communicative to the players, what he wants from the players and so these are the qualities that I learned from him.”Guys like Rohit , Virat and Ashwin , they have given us a blueprint on how to tour away from home and win matches and series. Yes, it’s one thing to be able to deliver and execute but because we have that blueprint, we know how to tour away from home and win matches and series.”Looking ahead to the England tour, Gill was excited to take on the challenges of playing a five-Test series.”My favourite series that I played was also a five-Test series when England came to India [in January-February 2024] and I think there’s a different essence when you’re playing a five-Test series,” he said. “It’s long, it’s mentally and physically very challenging and I think that’s the most exciting part about Test cricket because there are different areas and aspects that it challenges you at.”It’s not one-dimensional. There’s a lot more things that go on in red-ball cricket and that’s the most exciting thing … It’s not going to be easy, but I think we’re ready for any challenge.”

Leeds United’s return to the Premier League has been anything but quiet.

Following their 100-point Championship campaign, the 49ers Enterprises ownership backed Daniel Farke heavily in the transfer market, landing a string of ambitious signings.

Players such as Lucas Perri, Sean Longstaff, James Justin, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all arrived.

Yet it was not just arrivals that made headlines.

Key exits included Rasmus Kristensen, Maximilian Wöber, Junior Firpo, and perhaps most controversially, Largie Ramazani.

The Belgian winger had been a lively outlet during last season’s promotion push, but he was loaned to Valencia for the campaign – a move that left many supporters questioning whether Leeds had weakened their wide options.

With the club still finding its Premier League rhythm, the debate over whether Ramazani should have stayed has grown louder.

Why Leeds were right to let Ramazani go out on loan

Ramazani’s departure on a temporary basis is a curious subplot to Leeds’ summer.

The 24-year-old Belgium youth international only joined from Almería last year but quickly carved out a role in the promotion campaign.

Featuring 29 times in the Championship, he produced six goals and two assists, his pace and directness often unsettling second-tier defences.

With a market value of £6m, as per Transfermarkt, he represented a player in his prime years, and one many fans saw as ready for the next level.

A natural left-winger, Ramazani’s main strengths lie in stretching defences and committing opponents one-on-one.

His energy and willingness to run beyond meant he was often the difference maker in tight games.

On loan at Valencia, he has featured twice, offering the same blend of direct dribbling and counter-attacking thrust that made him popular at Elland Road.

Yet beneath the surface numbers, Ramazani’s output was limited at Championship level, suggesting that he may well have struggled up a division too.

His nine goal involvements across 30 matches last season, while respectable, were rarely decisive in big moments.

That is part of the reason Leeds sanctioned his loan, particularly given the scale of their recruitment drive and the emergence of an arguably bigger talent in the same position.

The answer to Leeds' wide problems

If Ramazani represented a promise unfulfilled, Noah Okafor offers a more complete package.

Signed from AC Milan for £18m, the 25-year-old Switzerland international arrived with a pedigree built across Europe.

His journey has taken him from FC Basel to RB Salzburg, where he developed a reputation as an explosive forward in the Champions League, before stints at Napoli and Milan.

Last season he featured 11 times in Serie A, scoring once, and added five appearances on the European stage.

Okafor is not simply a winger who hugs the touchline. Described by scout Jacek Kulig as “electric”, he combines agility and power with two-footed balance, close control and an ability to beat players in tight spaces.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Crucially, he is also far more rounded than Ramazani: his defensive work rate, progressive carrying and ambidextrous dribbling make him suited to both high-pressing and counter-attacking systems.

The statistical comparison already tilts in his favour.

Last season, Okafor produced 5.60 progressive carries per 90 compared to Ramazani’s 4.61, while also averaging more shot-creating actions (3.50 to 2.97).

He hits the target more frequently too, with 1.83 shots on target per 90 compared to Ramazani’s 1.39.

Although Ramazani leads for goal involvements (nine to Okafor’s one), the Swiss forward’s underlying numbers point towards far greater efficiency once settled in the Premier League.

Another area where Okafor stands out is ball progression.

His 25.2 carries per 90 reflect how central he is to advancing possession, while his blend of strength and control ensures he can both hold play up and drive past opponents.

Ramazani’s raw pace is useful, but Okafor provides a wider range of tools that make him harder to defend against at elite level.

Okafor’s European experience is another clear distinction. Having faced Champions League knockout ties and Serie A defences, he arrives at Elland Road with a level of maturity that Ramazani is yet to prove.

His display at the weekend gave a glimpse of what he can bring: direct running, creative spark, and a physical presence Leeds have lacked in wide areas.

For Leeds, the decision to let Ramazani leave now looks less risky.

While the Belgian may yet prove his worth in La Liga, Okafor already appears capable of offering Premier League quality.

In a squad balancing survival with ambition, having a winger of Okafor’s calibre may prove the smarter investment.

Leeds were brewing bigger homegrown star than Harry Gray but Farke sold him

Leeds United sold a star who was brewing as an even bigger talent than Harry Gray at Thorp Arch.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 17, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo marked another historic milestone in style, scoring a spectacular long-range goal as Al-Nassr demolished Al-Fateh 5-1 in the Saudi Pro League. The 40-year-old reached an unprecedented 800 club career goals before delivering a trademark post-match message that reiterated his belief that hard work is central to everything that he has ever achieved.

• Ronaldo bags stunner in 5-1 win over Al-Fateh

  Ronaldo continued to defy time and expectations as he led Al-Nassr to a commanding 5-1 victory over Al-Fateh on Saturday in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese forward missed a penalty in the 59th minute but made amends moments later, unleashing a stunning long-range strike to seal his 800th club goal. The Al-Nassr captain also grabbed an assist on the night, underlining his continued influence on the team.

  His strike saw him become the first player in football history to reach the 800-goal mark in club competitions, an extraordinary record achieved across four major teams in his glittering career – Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus – before his latest chapter in Saudi Arabia. Joao Felix netted a hat-trick, while Kingsley Coman added another in an emphatic display. The result lifted Al-Nassr to the top of the league table with 15 points from five matches.

  At 40 years old, Ronaldo remains Al-Nassr's talisman and continues to inspire his teammates with his relentless drive and professionalism. His latest goal not only carried historical significance but was also a reminder of his enduring ability to perform on the grand stage. For a man who has broken nearly every record imaginable, the night in Riyadh represented yet another golden chapter in a remarkable career.

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• CR7's reaction to goal & milestone

  After the match, Ronaldo took to Instagram to share his reaction to the milestone, posting a concise yet powerful message to his 666 million followers: "Success is not an accident."

  The post perfectly encapsulated the mentality that has defined his two-decade-long career – a mix of determination, discipline, and self-belief. It was not just a celebration of numbers, but a statement of intent from a player who refuses to be defined by age.

• How Ronaldo reached 800 club goals

  Ronaldo's 800-goal milestone is one of the most remarkable feats in sporting history, reflecting two decades of consistency at the highest level. The breakdown of his club career goals reveals just how dominant he has been across multiple eras and leagues. His 450 goals for Real Madrid remain a  Los Blancos record that may never be broken, while his 145 strikes across two spells at Manchester United showcase his adaptability in different footballing cultures.

  At Juventus, the forward found the net 101 times, helping the Italian giants to consecutive Serie A titles. Now, with Al-Nassr, he continues to deliver, adding yet another milestone to an already unmatched career with his 105th goal for the team.

  Ronaldo's stunner against Al-Fateh also carried extra drama. Just moments after missing from the penalty spot, he struck a long-range effort that arrowed into the top corner – the kind of instant redemption that has long defined his career. It was a goal that symbolised his mentality: unshaken by setbacks, always ready to respond with brilliance.

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  Al-Nassr to take on FC Goa next

  With Al-Nassr flying high at the summit of the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo's focus now shifts to continental competition. The Riyadh-based club are preparing to face Goa in the AFC Champions League Two on Wednesday at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in India. That fixture will give Ronaldo another opportunity to add to his historic tally and extend his influence on the international stage.

  Beyond individual milestones, Ronaldo's mission remains to lead Al-Nassr to glory both domestically and abroad. His leadership has been pivotal in transforming the club into one of Asia's most talked-about sides, and the Portuguese forward continues to draw global attention wherever he plays. For a player often described as 'driven by records', the 800-goal mark might simply be another step toward redefining what longevity in football truly means. Overall, he's hurtling towards 1,000 career goals when you also consider his 143 for Portugal.